Heel-stiffener



(No Model.)

W. H. BUELL.

HEEL STIPFENBR.

No. 559,672. Patented May 5, 1896.

g /wa wtoz 7% 7 14 MA 55x @HuznoW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM ll. BUELL, OF LAUGHLINTOIVN, PENNSYLVANIA.

HEEL-STIFFEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 559,672, dated May 5, 1896.

Application filed February 25,1896. Serial No. 580,623. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. BU ELL, of Laughlintown, in the county of Nestmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heel-Stiffeners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention pertains to improvements in heel-stitfeners; and the object thereof is to provide a device of improved form capable of adjustment for shoes of different sizes.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 illustrates the blank from which the stifiener is formed. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the stiffener in proper form. Fig. 3 is a bottom view.

The blank is formed with the central curvature or enlargement A in its upper portion, which tapers toward each end. The lower edge 13 is cut upward to form the depression 0, the ends of the depression consisting of the V-shaped notches l). The top line of the depression O is coincident with the bendingline F F.

The completed device consists of the back or body portion A, rounded to the shape of the boot-heel, while the extremities G of the blank are bent inward on line F F to form the bottom flange-plates, which are secured in the heel-bottom and hold the stifiening in place. lVhenbent to proper form, the notches form spaces which separate the inner ends of flanges G from back A, and these spaces permit the enlargement or contraction of the stiffener by affording room for the back A to be bent in a short curve for small shoes or more gradual curve for larger ones without interfering with the ends of said flange-plates G. At the same time the flange-plate ends are cut backward or outward in curved lines, so as to substantially conform to the curvature of the body portion A when in use. The inner adjacent edges of the flange-plates are substantially parallel and extending from end to end of the device, and so exist whether the stiffener be adjusted for a small or large shoe. \Vhile it is myintention to construct the still?- ening device of steel capable of bending, yet it may be formed of other kinds of metal, or even of leather if so desired.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An improved stiffener comprising the curved back or body portion A, the inward extensions G having their adjacent edges substantially in parallel lines and cut backward and outward at their inner ends to afford space between said ends and the body A, for the purpose substantially as herein shown and described.

2. An improved stiffening device comprisin g the vertical curved back or body portion A, the integral bottom flange-plates formed by turning inward the bottom edge of the curved portion A, the inner ends of the said flange-plate being bent backward and outward to afford a space between the same and the curved backing A, for the purpose substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

'WILLIAM H. BUELL. Witnesses DANIEL I-I. LAWSON, JOHN G. GALBREATH. 

